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Find yourself snacking on a bag of chips and before you know it–they’re gone?
You’re not alone.
Find out how to slim down without even trying.
“We don’t have enough time for mindful eating,” says Wansink.
“The secret is to set up your environment so you eat less without having to think about.”
Here are his research-backed tips for tricking yourself into slimming down–no diet required!
Makeover your dishes
Forget counting calories.
you’ve got the option to slash calories just by changing your dinnerware.
You’ve heard it before–smaller plates and bowls are the key to portion control.
Haven’t made the switch yet?
Small dinnerware really is a no-brainer.
And do your guests a favor, too.
Bonus: Healthy, Super Tasty Party Appetizers!
Change your dining routine
Pick a room and eat there–always.
Dining in the same place reduces the number of distraction you experience, says Wansink.
Your environment becomes familiar and you effortlessly eat less.
Set the right mood with average lighting.
Too dim and you’ll linger at the table and often end up eating more.
Too bright and you’ll scarf down food too quickly, underestimating how full you are.
And you’ve probably heard that eating with the TV on is bad (so turn off the tube!
), but avoid other distractions like reading the newspaper, too.
Start shopping smart
Rather than focus on not buying snacks, focus onadding healthier optionsto your everyday.
Rather than one veggie, pick up four different choices to munch more.
If you’re always passing up your favorite foods in exchange for “low-fat” options, listen up.
Consumers who chose “low-fat” foods actually ended up splurging on more calories.
Snack on the food you love–just eat less of it, says Wansink.
Bonus: 5 Healthy Food Faux Paus We’re ALL Doing
Switch up your snacking
Cookies.
Hard to resist, right?
According to Wansink’s research, these are the most common “comfort foods” for women.
That’s because we associate these goodies with positive memories.
Simply put, ice cream = happiness (duh!).
Try eating a healthy snack the next time something good happens to you, suggests Wansink.
Eventually, healthy foods will be as comforting as cookies.
Can’t avoid snacking?
One easy fix is to keep goodies in opaque containers.
Out of sight, out of mind.
And while you’re hiding the bad, bring out the good!
Store healthy snacks in easy-to-reach places and towards the front of your refrigerator.
You’ll grab the carrots over the chocolate without even noticing.
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